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Fullname: Arne Engels
aka: –
Born: 8 September 2003
Birthplace: Opwijk, Belgium
Signed: 30 August 2024 (from FC Augsburg est £11m)
Left: –
Position: Right-back, Defender, Midfielder Right-winger
Debut: Celtic 3-0 TheRangers, League, 1 Sep 2024
Squad No.: 27
Internationals: Belgium
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
Arne Engels transfer bowled over everyone in Scottish football on his arrival. He was bought for a then Celtic record fee of £11m despite little knowledge of him beforehand within Celtic media circles. He was highly rated by his club and their support, and on paper he was a great investment. Incredibly, still not the Scottish fee record with Sevco’s £12m fee from 20 years back still in nominal terms the record (£25m comparable in 2024 figures).
As a player on his arrival he was athlectically built, tall and had a solid touch/technique. He had the physique and temperament to make it, but had a lot to still work on to impose himself in match and learn the ropes. As Brendan Rodgers summarised:
‘In Arne Engels they look to have secured a young talent who will adequately replace Matt O’Riley. He also has boundless potential. In the past we haven’t always replaced quality with quality.”
Season 2024/25
His first week with Celtic was incredible, firstly after his record signing, he was subbed on for his debut in a 3-0 win v TheRangers (Sep 2024) which admittedly was already won by the time he came on, and then a few days later he won his debut international cap in a 3-1 win v Israel.
He next scored his debut goal in a 2-0 win over Hearts in the league (Sep 2024). As he went up to take that penalty you could clearly hear in the audio Hearts’ striker Shankland trash talk shouting “BIG PRESSURE! BIG PRESSURE!” whilst another Hearts player yelled: “£10m? AYE RIGHT!” before Engels slotted it home with ease! A nice start rubbing it in their faces.
On paper he was gaining experience but often he struggled to find his feet at first, and was often criticised for being too little involved in play, with many often calling for Bernardo to start ahead of Engels.
He took until the second half of his first full season to get the respect he deserved, but in truth there was no single game in which you could argue he was the lynchpin. He still had much to develop, but he had still played his part in the incredible 2024/25 campaign, with success both in Europe as well as domestically, and he could certainly take much good out of his contribution for the season.
As a measure of his development, Italian side Atalanta who were riding high in recent seasons, had made “concrete attempts” to sign him according to reports in Italy.
[….]
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Quotes
“If we keep on running and keep on making the game really hard for the opponent, we can beat everybody.”
New Celtic midfielder Arne Engels thinks they’re capable of beating anyone in the Champions League (Sep 2024)
“A really strong part of our squad is that we don’t look at other things, only ourselves. We want to improve every day together. Hopefully we can achieve that together, it would be really nice. The winning mentality here is different to what I’ve experienced before. Kasper [Schmeichel] has said if you win here, it’s a normal feeling. But if you draw or lose, it’s a disaster. That’s so true. Everyone has that mindset.”
Arne Engels (Dec 2024)
“I don’t care — I’m here to just perform and to get better. I’m still young, I still need to learn. I think I have good numbers and good performances. Everybody has something to say and, of course, I’m not reading it. But sometimes you hear it. My parents are telling me, ‘they are saying this or that’. But it is up to me to just perform, enjoy my game and enjoy life. I think I’m in a good place, I’m doing well here. And it’s not about me, it’s about the team. I want to be here to help the team and win trophies. We are still in a place to get the three trophies this season. That was a big aim for me.”
Arne Engels tells his critics (Apr 2025)
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Playing Career
[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2024-25 | 34 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 52 |
| Goals | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 2025-26 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| 2026-27 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| 2027-28 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Goals |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
- 2024-25, […]
Scottish Cup
- […]
Scottish League Cup
- 2024-25, […]
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Articles
Arne Engels signs for Celtic on a four-year-deal
By Editor 30 August, 2024 No Comments
[Arne Engels signs for Celtic on a four-year-deal]
AUGSBURG, GERMANY – AUGUST 02: Arne Engels of FC Augsburg poses during the team presentation at WWK Arena on August 02, 2023 in Augsburg, https://thecelticstar.com/arne-engels-signs-for-celtic-on-a-four-year-deal/
Arne Engels signs for Celtic on a four-year-deal…
In the closing minutes of the transfer window Celtic has announced the signing of Arne Engels from FC Augsburg on a four-year-deal, subject to international clearance.
The 20-year-old Belgian midfielder progressed through the ranks of Club Brugge’s academy before making the step up to the Brugge reserve side, Club NXT.
In 2023 he signed for German side FC Augsburg, where he made over 50 Bundesliga appearances.
At international level, Engels has featured for Belgium at every age level from under-15s to under-21s and was called up to the Belgian first-team squad for their Euros’ warm-up match against Montenegro in the summer.
He was also included in the latest Belgian squad for the upcoming Nations League campaign which was announced today (August 30).
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers said: “We are delighted to bring Arne to Celtic. He is an exciting young player of real quality who has already made his mark at a really high level in the Bundesliga.
“He has a wide range of attributes which will allow him to play a number of positions in midfield, so we feel he is an excellent acquisition for the Club. I think Arne’s style of play, his energy and his technical ability really will suit our game model.
“While Celtic will always be our priority, it is fantastic too that Arne is now receiving full international recognition within a top Belgian squad, something he is very deserving of.”
“Excellent acquisition” – Celtic delighted as they confirm record signing of Belgian starlet in £11m deal
By Graham Falk
Published 30th Aug 2024, 23:17 BST
Celtic have broken their transfer record with the signing of Belgium under-21 international Arne Engels.
Celtic have announced the signing of Belgian player Arne Engels for a record fee of £11million just minutes before the transfer deadline.
The 20-year-old playmaker had been keen to join the Scottish champions from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg, though the Hoops saw several bids rejected for the player before they had a breakthrough in the last 24 hours, with the youngster now confirmed as a Celtic player alongside fellow deadline day arrival Auston Trusty.
“We are delighted to bring Arne to Celtic,” said head coach Brendan Rodgers. “He is an exciting young player of real quality who has already made his mark at a really high level in the Bundesliga. He has a wide range of attributes which will allow him to play a number of positions in midfield, so we feel he is an excellent acquisition for the club. I think Arne’s style of play, his energy and his technical ability really will suit our game model.”
“While Celtic will always be our priority, it is fantastic too that Arne is now receiving full international recognition within a top Belgian squad, something he is very deserving of.”
The move had looked in serious doubt just 48 hours ago when Augsburg head coach Jess Thorup said he “expected” the player to be part of his squad for the weekend game with Heidenheim. However, Celtic have now managed to complete the move ahead of the deadline in a deal that smashes their transfer record of £9.5million, which they paid for Adam Idah earlier in the window. The highly-rated Engels has agreed to a four-year-deal with the club, subject to international clearance.
It is reported that the German club have also inserted a 20% sell-on fee as part of the package and the player could be included in Sunday’s squad for the game against Rangers at Celtic Park. Celtic are also hoping to complete a late deal for Dundee captain Luke McCowan after having a late bid accepted by the Den’s Park club.
[….]
Celtic star’s memorable week continues as £11m ace given Belgium seal of approval
By Graham Falk
Comments
Published 7th Sep 2024, 10:30 BST
Updated 7th Sep 2024, 10:42 BST
Celtic midfielder Arne Engels topped off a memorable week by making his international debut for Belgium last night.
Celtic’s Arne Engels continued his unforgettable week by making his international debut in Belgium’s 3-1 victory over Israel in the Nations League last night.
Playing the final 17 minutes of the victory, his appearance off the bench tops off a stunning week for the young Belgian, who made his Hoops debut in last Sunday’s 3-0 win over neighbours Rangers just two days after completing his record £11million switch from Bundesliga side Augsburg.
Engels, who has represented Belgium at every youth age group and is a prominent feature for their under-21 squad, received his first call up to the senior squad just hours after completing his megabucks move to Celtic Park last week and has been tipped for a massive future in his homeland.
The youngster will compete with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Amadou Onana for a midfield berth but believes he can add to Domenico Tedesco’s squad. “I am a player who can bring energy and will to win,” said Engels following his senior call-up last week. “I am a real winner every day, even during mutual games in training. In addition, I have a nice passing and a good kicking technique, which can be useful in set pieces, if necessary. I am also very versatile: I pull my weight everywhere, but I prefer to play in midfield. I am mainly here to learn. I want to deliver quality and show that I am worth being here.”
Replacing Youri Tielemans in the 73rd minute, the 20-year-old midfielder could to feature again against France on Monday, with Belgium head coach Tedesco admitting he sees a big future for Engels.
“We have been following Arne for a long time,” the Belgium boss admitted last week. “He was there in our training camp just before the European Championship and he impressed in training. He has enormous potential and we want to give him the opportunity to show what he can do. There is more room for younger players in the squad now. In the coming six months we have the chance to test these new faces.”
[….]
Arne Engels opens up on Celtic move – biggest club claim, Parkhead first impressions and why he greeted Rangers boss
By Matthew Elder
Deputy Sports Editor
Comments
Published 10th Sep 2024, 19:36 BST
Updated 10th Sep 2024, 19:37 BST
Belgian midfielder aiming to live up to £11m price tag
Arne Engels has vowed to take his status as Celtic’s record signing in his stride after claiming he has joined the “biggest club in Scotland”.
Celtic paid Augsburg £11million to take the Belgium midfielder to Scotland on the final day of the transfer window. Engels made more than 50 appearances in the Bundesliga and made his Belgium debut against Israel on Friday, two days before his 21st birthday. He is determined to keep progressing and feels the expectations at Celtic will help him.
When asked if the club-record fee added extra pressure, the midfielder said: “No, I just want to to enjoy my football.
New Celtic signing Arne Engels was unveiled to the media at Celtic Park on Tuesday. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
New Celtic signing Arne Engels was unveiled to the media at Celtic Park on Tuesday. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
“They obviously paid a big amount for me and I want to return a lot for the club and be on my best form here and just perform like I always do. That’s why they did it.
“So it’s just for me to adapt now quickly to the situation, to the team. It’s an amazing team so everybody is teaching me a lot so I think it’s going to be easy to integrate and to perform.”
“It’s a really big club,” he added. “Also, I think it’s the biggest club in Scotland. They play every time for the championship and for the cups.
“So it’s obvious that it’s a step forward for me and also with the new format of the Champions League, I think it can be really amazing and special.
“If you see the new format, then you play in more Champions League games. That’s always nice to play but that’s not the biggest bonus that I wanted to come here.
“It’s just a really big club and also a step forward for me to play for the league and to play to win and to be under pressure to win every game – this is something I want to experience.”
Engels moved to Germany 18 months ago, having come through the youth academy of Club Brugge.
“I left home really early and I needed to do things for my own and look after myself,” he said.
“So I it helped me to grow up really quickly, actually quicker than I expected. But of course it’s hard to go at a young age to to a different country and then it makes it all a bit easier because you know what you did.
“I always believed in myself and that’s why I made the step there and that’s why I also made the step here, because I believe in myself and I want to show what I have got.”
Engels admitted he had a “really hectic” introduction to life in Glasgow, making his debut off the bench against Rangers after only one training session and then flying off for his first senior international camp, but he was delighted to be thrown into the deep end.
“It actually felt like home,” he said. “It felt really good to come on. It was really amazing to get the fans’ attention and to perform in these kind of games.
“I’ve played in a lot of big stadiums in Germany obviously, but here it’s a bit different. It’s just really loud and everybody’s really on top of the game and supporting and pushing us. It was really helpful for the team and that’s what is pushing us to the limits.”
Engels played for Club Brugge’s B team while current Rangers manager Philippe Clement was in charge and the pair greeted each other at Celtic Park before hostilities commenced.
“I worked with him, so it’s normal that we see each other,” Engels said. “It was nice to see him, but it’s for me to beat him. So that’s what we did.”
Celtic reveal why they can be cautious with duo as Arne Engels criticism addressed
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Published 26th Oct 2024, 08:00 BST
Carter-Vickers back in training – but Trusty gives Rodgers a boost
Celtic will continue to be cautious with the return of key defender Cameron Carter-Vickers despite the American’s return to training.
Both he and fellow Celtic defender Greg Taylor are pushing to return from toe and calf injuries respectively ahead of Sunday’s Premiership encounter with Motherwell at Fir Park. However, the performances of deputies Auston Trusty and Alex Valle in Tuesday’s 0-0 Champions League draw with Atalanta allows manager Brendan Rodgers to take his time with their reintegration.
Rodgers said: “We’ve got Cam back training with the squad, which is good news. Greg Taylor as well. So, one more day to go and then we’ll see how they are, but hopefully they’ll be involved in the game.
“We’d like them to be available, I think that’s what’s important. So, it gives us options, which is what you want as a coach. But obviously the team, defensively, was outstanding the other night. But to have those two guys back, who are very important players for us, will be good.”
Carter-Vickers trained before the last two games, but did not make the squad. He has missed the last six matches in total and Rodgers continued: “Certainly when we were away it was the best he’d felt. So he’s obviously done some training back here.
“We’re just being careful and listening to him really to not want to force it really if it’s not right. But he looked very good earlier and he’s been that throughout this week. So fingers crossed he comes through OK and then he can be involved in the squad.”
Left-footed Trusty has been filling in on the right side of central defence alongside Liam Scales and the former Sheffield United player showed his worth in Italy with his best performance since arriving at Celtic Park.
“I thought he was immense in the game,” Rodgers continued. “Him and Scalesy. But Scalesy, I’ve seen now for a long time, one of his great superpowers is defending the box. When it comes in, he puts his head on it.
“For Auston, a big admiration, especially since he’s come in he’s a player that’s been playing on the wrong side virtually all his time. But he’s just got on with it and coped with it.
“But then you see one of the big reasons why we did bring him in. His ability to leap and defend in the box. He’s really powerful with his head. But also his speed, there were a couple of recovery runs in behind. He’s super quick. He got there on a couple of occasions.
“I was so, so pleased for him, because sometimes you need a big performance like that at the big clubs to really show your value.”
Rodgers believes Celtic can now push forward on multiple fronts after showing they can play with grit as well as guile following their performance against exalted opposition in Bergamo.
Celtic looked far more compact in Italy than they had in Germany three weeks earlier, when they were dismantled 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund, and defended stoutly against an Atalanta team who like to get the ball in the box from out wide.
“The biggest part that really pleased me was that concentration level right to the very end against a team from a superior league and a top, top team,” said Rodgers. “We showed that we could defend really well and be compact and tight, but we showed a great physicality in the game as well to match their physicality.
“The players can take huge confidence, knowing that we can play some brilliant football, some fast football, score many goals. But to keep a clean sheet and play how we did out there, not only does it galvanise the players and their confidence when those moments come – because they’ll come again, especially in the Champions League – it’s also great for the supporters.
“The supporters, as much as the football is great and intensity and everything, they also need to know that your team can have a bit of dig, a bit of grit and determination. I think we’ve seen that the other night against a top team.
“I was so happy for the supporters because I’m sure after the Dortmund game there’s a wee bit of trepidation. You’re playing against a top team who, across Europe, were one of the top goalscorers in all the top leagues.
Arne Engels was disciplined during the Atalanta match.
Arne Engels was disciplined during the Atalanta match. | SNS Group
“But they got a real pride in their team. Not just for us as coaching and managing staff, the players themselves but for the supporters, they know that this team can now do that. There is a graft there, there is a heart, there is a desire and an organisation that can help us.”
One of the players who showed a different side to his game was midfielder Arne Engels, who tested the home goalkeeper with a powerful drive but generally suppressed his attacking instincts.
“He had a massive job to do on Ademola Lookman,” Rodgers explained. “His strength is his running power. He’s a different player to what Matt O’Riley was but it was for that very reason we brought him in with that power and that running ability that he has to cover the ground, do the dirty stuff.
“Sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself for the team and he’s shown that since the first day he arrived.”
The £11million record signing has received criticism from some supporters since the Dortmund game, having started brightly following his move from Augsburg. “That doesn’t surprise me, but it doesn’t really matter,” Rodgers said. “There’s critics in the game and people have an opinion and you have to respect that.
“Sometimes there’s a price around him and that might feel that you’re buying someone who’s the finished article. He’s not. He came in here as a 20-year-old player who’s got great potential and it’s my job along with the staff to develop that.
“I said to him, you’re coming from playing one game a week – where that’s a holiday in my book – to play in a big club with big pressure and big expectation, and you’ll feel it. You’ll be playing a lot of games and sometimes you come out to recover so it’s all natural.
“I understand that people will make a judgement but I’m so happy he chose to come here. He’s shown more than enough in this short period of time that he’s going to be a fantastic player for us.”
We Need to Talk About Arne Engels
https://celtsarehere.com/we-need-to-talk-about-arne-engels-2/
By M.Ross –
February 12, 2025
Celtic may have fallen short against Bayern Munich, but one player who stood tall throughout the 90 minutes was Arne Engels. The Belgian midfielder was composed in possession, aggressive in the duels, and showed real quality in the heat of a Champions League knockout tie.
In a game where Celtic had to do a lot of chasing without the ball, Engels’ work rate and ability to stand up to Bayern’s elite midfielders was a big factor in keeping the game competitive. He finished the night with 5 duels won, including a perfect 4/4 on the ground and 1/1 in the air, proving he could mix it physically against top opposition. He was also never dispossessed—an impressive feat against a team that thrives on pressing.
Composed Under Pressure
Bayern dominated possession, leaving Celtic with just 35% of the ball in the first half. Despite the lack of control, Engels still managed to complete 28 of his 40 passes (70%), including seven passes into the final third, showing his willingness to keep Celtic ticking over and push the team forward when possible.
While no assists or shots came his way, he still created two chances and ended the game with a 0.14 xA (expected assists) rating, proving his ability to unlock space in a tough game.
Aggression Without Recklessness
Celtic had to dig deep defensively, and Engels was one of the few who matched Bayern’s physicality in midfield. He won 2 out of 3 tackles and made four defensive actions, including a key headed clearance. Importantly, he never dove into rash challenges or committed any fouls, a sign of his growing maturity at this level.
Celtic’s Arne Engels (left) and Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
He was also involved in the game’s most controversial moment—the VAR penalty decision. After appearing to be brought down in the box, the referee was advised to check the monitor, only to wave away Celtic’s claims. Had the penalty been awarded, Engels could have played a crucial role in changing the tie.
A Performance to Build On
Engels may still be adapting to life at Celtic, but his performance against Bayern showed exactly why Rodgers has put so much faith in him. He didn’t look out of place against some of Europe’s best midfielders, and with the second leg at the Allianz Arena next week, he will need to produce another big display if Celtic are to have any chance of pulling off an upset.
For a young player in his first Champions League campaign, this was a huge step forward—one that suggests Celtic have a real talent on their hands.